Broomfield Sports

Boys soccer: Milner the focal point of the Eagles venture into 5A

Taleneted midfielder sees the field as well as anybody

Midfielder Porter Milner brings an explosive presence to the field for the Broomfield Eagles (David R. Jennings / Broomfield Enterprise)

BROOMFIELD — Porter Milner is Porter Milner's biggest critic.

That being said, the Broomfield junior had a knack last season for letting his emotions get the best of him on field — prompting coach Jim Davidson to emphasize to his pupil the obvious "you're much more important to us on the field than on the bench" cliche.

"This past club season I have been thinking a lot about that and I kind of reflected on my last season," said Milner, who totaled 12 goals and six assists during his sophomore season. "I saw how my ridiculous emotions got in the way and I think I have got control of that."

Davidson knew he had something special in Milner before he ever donned an Eagles uniform in the summer before his freshman season.

A keen midfielder that sees the field as well as anybody in the state and has the ability to step up and score the crucial goal when his team needs it is something not just Davidson, but coaches everywhere, are longing for.

"He is a fierce competitor and there is no doubt that comes out, and if we can keep him on the field though, that is what is important," said Davidson, who starts his 18th season roaming the Eagles sideline. "We need Porter on the field as much as possible and we can't pick up any sort of frivolous cards or that sort of thing.

"I think when Porter keeps his emotions in check and he uses his fiery attitude in a positive way, he's going to get everybody on board."

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Early indications of that leadership ability were on display at the University of Denver's summer camp last month. Milner, playing with a very experienced Broomfield team that is making the jump to the Class 5A Front Range League, was the central figure in the Eagles' success there and what they hope to do this season.

"I thought he kept his emotions in check (at DU) and he's getting players involved instead of maybe getting frustrated when players aren't finding his level of play," Davidson said. "Our team is a little more experienced now, has more maturity and they are starting to recognize where to find Porter in the spots he needs to play."

"I think we will still be able to compete, we have a strong squad," said Milner, who took his first unofficial college visit of the summer at the University of Kentucky. "We've had a strong schedule in the past with a lot of 5A teams, so we know we can compete."

The biggest concern on making the conversion to 5A for Davidson is the question of depth. Senior Joe Weiss and sophomores Armando Ocampo and Luke Oberto provide extra support in the midfield and defensively Daulton Logan and Justin Hamm — a lifetime soccer player who spent the first few years at school on the football team until shoulder injuries forced the move to the pitch — will be vital in front of Genge.

"What will be a test for us is not so much the level of competition, because we have built that non-league 5A schedule against the best competition for years and handled the schedule extremely well, but the test will be in the depth of the Front Range League and that fitness depth in term of each week," said Davidson, whose team could usually take a breather every now and again during their 4A days. "Now we've got those two competitive games during the week and now we have a Fossil Ridge on Saturday. I'm a little worried about that, especially now with us being a 'small' 5A school, do we have the ability to run 15, 16, 17 players in a match, because typically we run 13 or 14."

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